Experiences aren't given to us to be 'got over,' otherwise they would hardly be experiences.
More than that, I believe that the grass is green because green is restful to the human eye, that the sky is blue to give us an idea of the infinite. And that blood is red so that murder will be more easily detected and criminals will be brought to justice. Yes, and I believe that I shall live forever, but I shall live without reason.
Interpretation
What this quote means
The quote explores the intrinsic connections between nature, perception, and morality, suggesting that colors serve specific purposes in our understanding of the world.
Penelope Fitzgerald's quote reflects on the purpose behind the colors we see in nature and their relationship to human perception and morality. She suggests that the colors of grass, sky, and blood are not merely aesthetic choices but carry deeper meanings that enhance our experiences and prevent wrongdoing. The statement also touches on existential themes, as she expresses a belief in her own immortality while simultaneously acknowledging a lack of reason for existence, inviting reflection on life's meaning and the human experience.
Themes
In practice
Example use cases
This quote can be used in a discussion about the significance of colors in art and nature.
More from Penelope Fitzgerald
All quotes →I have remained true to my deepest convictions. I mean the courage of those who are born to be defeated, the weaknesses of the strong, and the tragedy of misunderstandings and missed opportunities, which I have done my best to treat as comedy—for otherwise how can we manage to bear it?
However, no two people see the external world in exactly the same way. To every separate person a thing is what he thinks it is - in other words, not a thing, but a think.
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Everyone succumbs to finitude. I suspect I am not the only one who reaches this pluperfect state. Most ambitions are either achieved or abandoned; either way, they belong to the past. The future, instead of the ladder toward the goals of life, flattens out into a perpetual present.
Only morality in our actions can give beauty and dignity to life.
People to whom sin is just a matter of words, to them salvation is just words too.
In the end, the aggressors always destroy themselves, making way for others who know how to cooperate and get along. Life is much less a competitive struggle for survival than a triumph of cooperation and creativity.